OPERATION PLES DRAI

THE PNG AND AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCES WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE PEOPLE OF PNG DURING THE 1997 – 1998 DROUGHT

THE ROLES OF THE DEFENCE FORCES

THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA DEFENCE FORCE:

Its role is to assist the Papua New Guinea National Disasters and Emergency Service with the delivery and security of important food relief supplies as they are delivered throughout the drought stricken parts of the country.

As well as providing security to the delivery of relief supplies along land and sea distribution routes, the PNGDF – together with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary – has been playing an important liaison role by accompanying Australian Defence Force relief flights into the worst hit areas in some of the most remote parts of the country.

Apart from their security and liaison function, engineers will soon be deployed to assist the government in providing drinking water in areas where water levels are at a dangerously low level.

PNGDF medical staff have also conducted limited medical reconnaissance of some of the worst hit areas to determine what medical support is required by locals in some of the country’s most remote villages.

Meanwhile, members of the PNGDF’s maritime element will soon be embarking on two Royal Australian Navy landing craft to provide security and an invaluable liaison capability when those ships deliver much needed relief supplies to coastal centres such at Kerema in the Gulf Province.

Commanding the PNGDF’s drought relief effort is Lieutenant Colonel John Navi.

THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE:

The role of the Australian Defence Force in OPERATION SIERRA is to help the Australian Government’s aid arm AusAID (Australian Agency for International Development) and the PNG National Disasters and Emergency Service with nation-wide drought relief efforts.

The Australian Defence Force’s primary objective is to deliver emergency food relief to those areas most affected by the current drought and that can only be reached by air.

The food aid being delivered comprise rice, flour and cooking oil.

It is the responsibility of the Papua New Guinea National Disaster and Emergency Service to determine which locations throughout the country require emergency food relief and in what priority.

The Australian Defence Force is working closely with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary in planning and conducting military support for the national drought relief effort.

Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel and members of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary often deploy on Australian Defence aircraft and ships involved in OPERATION SIERRA to provide a vital liaison capability.

The Commander of the Australian Defence Force contingent is Lieutenant Colonel Norman Cognet.